Johnny Max Releases New Music with His So-Called Friends

The award-winning Johnny Max Band, led by the charismatic and whip sharp Johnny Max, have been touring Canada and Europe for over 30 years and bring their remarkable rhythm & blues, Memphis meets Chicago and New Orleans sound to enthusiastic crowds wherever they go. 

With two JUNO award nominations, eight Maple Blues awards nominations, and the winner of the International Songwriting Competition Award for “Daddy’s Little Girl”, off the album A Long Road. The Johnny Max Band consistently wows audiences with joyous, sometimes raucous rhythms and masterful showmanship. 

Watch The Johnny Max Band Sizzle Reel here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTMP8q-sBB4&t=3s

 The Johnny Max Band are embarking on another exciting chapter with their 8th album, Johnny Max & His So Called Friends, to be released November 25th, 2025. The album features danceable and well written songs, along with a frontman who is not afraid to take risks,and with guest appearances from several of Ontario’s brightest musicians including Jim Casson, Quisha Wint, Dylan Wickens, Suzie Vinnick, Jay Burr, Bill Evans and more. “Johnny Max & His So Called Friends came about from talking about having all sorts of friends come in and help the JMB with different sounds and styles and needing or wanting other people to play with”, says Max. 

 “Might As Well Be On Mars” has been a favourite of mine since I first heard it. After also finding out that Neil Chapman, not only played but was also a writer of the song(by the Pukka Orchestra) I have been wanting to record the song and now also wanted Neil to be on the song, too. “Plastic Jesus” is from a scene in one of my favourite movies "Cool Hand Luke" and I have always wanted to record this song, just for kicks.....Mitch on guitar, just him and I sitting in the control room and playing. We have been playing “Memphis Women & Fried Chicken” for more than 20 years and have been asked if it has been on our previous albums....so I thought why not actually get it on an album" - Johnny Max

Musicians

Johnny Max - Lead Vocals 

Jim Casson - Drums & Percussion

Mitch Lewis - Guitars

Dylan Wickens - Guitars

Steve Goldberger - Bass

Bill Evans - Keyboards

So Called Friends

Neil Chapman - Guitar 

Jay Burr - Tuba

Quisha Wint - Vocals

Suzie Vinnick - Vocals

Wayne Deadder - Guitars & Vocals

Russ Boswell - Bass

Sabine Casson - Vocals 

Nan McAneney  - Spoken Voice

Recorded at Mark Lalama's The Shed & Jim Casson's Cherry Pit Studio

Produced by Jim Casson and Johnny Max.

Track List:

1. You Can Do Better Than Him
2. How The Other Half Lives
3. I've Said All The Sorrys I'm Gonna Say
4. Might As Well Be On Mars
5. I've Never Met A Bridge
6. These Are The Things That Make Me Think Of You
7. Memphis Women & Fried Chicken
8. Kiss From Joanne
9. What's Good For The Goose
10. When You Love Somebody
11. Be Good To Yourself
12. Plastic Jesus

All songs are originals except for:

 Might As Well Be On Mars originally by The Pukka Orchestra and the guitar solo is by the Pukka Orchestra's Neil Chapman.

 Be Good to Yourself is from Glasgow born & Rod Stewart's favourite singers, Frankie Miller.

 Memphis Women & Fried Chicken is a Dan Penn song that the JMB have been performing for decades and have finally put it on an album.

 Plastic Jesus is a parody song originally put in one of Johnny's all time favourite movies, "Cool Hand Luke" which starred a very young Paul Newman.

Follow on social media here:

https://www.instagram.com/thejohnnymax/?hl=en

https://www.youtube.com/@JohnnyMax7

https://soundcloud.com/johnny-max-683228788

For more info visit: https://johnnymaxband.com/